September 19, 2026 – Mangu, Plateau State
Scores of civilians were feared dead following an evening attack on a busy market about 52 miles south of Jos, the Plateau State capital.
At least seven people were hit by automatic gunfire, with local sources reporting at least three deaths. The attack occurred at the weekly Friday vegetable market in Mangu town, headquarters of Mangu Local Government Area. Witnesses said armed men launched a surprise assault at about 8:30 p.m. as traders and buyers were preparing to close.
The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) confirmed the attack, stating that the gunmen opened fire on a vehicle leaving the market, killing two women and a young man.
MDA President Bulus Dabit said the identities of the victims were not immediately known, adding that several passers-by were seriously injured and were being referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for treatment.
“At about 8 p.m. on Friday, gunmen shot several times at a vehicle leaving the vegetable market in Mangu, killing two women and a young man,” Dabit said.
“The names of the victims are not known yet. Several passers-by were seriously injured and are being referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment”.
A resident who witnessed the attack said people waiting for vehicles to take them home were caught off guard. “Everyone was preparing to leave. Suddenly, gunmen entered the market and started shooting. People ran for their lives and left everything behind,” he said.
Photos shared by locals from the scene suggested indiscriminate targeting, with both male and female victims sustaining gunshot wounds to the abdomen, legs and knees.
The ensuing stampede reportedly left several other persons injured as traders, buyers and passers-by scrambled to escape the scene.
The attack came just hours after the Mwaghavul Development Association raised the alarm over continued threats to communities in Mangu, stating that more than 750 of its members have been killed in terror attacks in the past three years.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Friday Derwam, the association said victims were frequently attacked in their homes or ambushed while working on their farms, with some subjected to severe mutilation.
The MDA called for an immediate investigation into the recent killings and urged security agencies to deploy intelligence and technology to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. “Security agencies must leverage intelligence and technology to apprehend the perpetrators of these dastardly acts, as they would not be far from the scene of the crime,” Dabit said.
The market attack is the latest in a series of deadly incidents across Plateau State in recent weeks. On September 14, at least 13 people were killed in separate attacks in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas, including nine passengers travelling to Jos who were shot when attackers opened fire on their vehicle at Dungus community in Jos South.
The attacks occurred 48 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, visited Jos and met with local officials and community leaders over escalating security threats. Disu’s visit followed an attack that killed nine people on the outskirts of Jos on September 14. During his visit, Disu assured residents of ongoing efforts to track perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The market sits at the centre of more than 50 villages that have been sacked in recent attacks, according to local leaders, who identified the assailants as terrorists identifying as Fulani. The violence has taken a heavy toll on Christian residents in the area, with more than 750 killed in Mangu alone since 2023.
No group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack. Security agencies have yet to release an official statement, but emergency responders and community volunteers are working to secure the area and support affected families. Residents say fear remains high as emergency responders work to evacuate the injured and recover bodies from the scene.
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